Knowledge Translation: example in practice

1. Knowledge Translation: example in practice Ann Crosland Professor of Nursing Department of Pharmacy, Health and Wellbeing University of Sunderland Shona A Haining BSc PhD Head of Research & Development NHS North of Tyne

2. Public health evaluations A range of PH projects requiring evaluation Innovative funding of evaluation Top slicing of budget from each project Combined budget from each project and commissioned evaluation of all projects together

3. Advantages of combining budget Larger amount One set of commissioning process More attractive for external bidders Economies of scale

4. Commissioning evaluation Identify project – specific aims Write up tender Advertise – open and national Assess – based on tender criteria Award Secondment of research staff in PH team Monitor

5. The bid The proposal set out: The multi-disciplinary context within which the work would be carried out and supervised An outline of both the public health and research experience of the staff who would undertake the evaluations A proposal for a secondment of two university staff with North Tyneside PCT on a job share basis

6. What happened next Service Level Agreement was drawn up and signed by the two organisations The secondment was finalised and staff were given access to PCT resources for the duration of the project A Steering Group of the Researchers, commissioners and R&D Manager was set up Individual project groups were already meeting so the researchers joined these groups

7. The first steps It became clear early on that the original NRF outcomes for the projects were unrealistic Concerns that this could lead to delays in getting the evaluations up and running Meetings were held to identify suitable outcomes at and organisational, commissioning and individual project level

8. Outcomes Organisational-better commissioning skills Commissioning-commissioners able to identify realistic and measurable outcomes Individual project-outcomes measureable within the timescale and more closely aligned to the immediate objectives of the projects

9. Reporting back Quarterly Steering Group meetings kept key decision makers up to date Specific brief reports were produced for each project with a focus on informing future commissioning decisions An overall report was produced for the PCT A workshop was held to feedback findings to key stakeholders Two presentations at UKPHA and FPH conferences

10. Benefits of this approach Individuals NHS organisation Academia

11. Individuals Timely outcomes for commissioning decisions Commissioning for patient led NHS – commissioning / provider split Assisted in making future commissioning decisions

12. Organisation High quality independent research Capacity building for evaluation skills and evaluation “language” Shared learning between projects, barriers, enablers, outcomes

13. Organisation (2) Commissioning evidenced based services Procurement process World Class Commissioning competencies

14. Benefits to the University Developed a better understanding of current issues facing commissioners Kept staff in touch with the world of public health practice Helped build capacity for research and knowledge translation Built on the University’s reputation for high quality relevant research and evaluation Contributed to academic outputs

15. Knowledge Translation in action Academia NHS

16. Implications for future Need for more innovative models for joint working We need more staff who can move between and span the different worlds